Does OPP provide husbands and happiness for employees? Well, maybe. As Deb Emigh says, "when you work for OPP, every year just gets better and better!"

Deb Emigh is retiring from Penn State after more than 35 years. She started as wage payroll at the Career Development & Placement Center in Grange, and then moved to OPP where she has been ever since. 

She first started at the Service Desk before it became the Work Control Center. "Things were different then. I hated it. The phones never stopped ringing, never. You would hang up one call only to immediately have another. It was constant. Constant! I told my supervisor 'this is a mistake, I can't do this.' She said to give it some time. Now, 34 years later, I really am leaving."

Maximo Is My Favorite Video Game 

Her job titles kept changing over time. Deb was originally a Service Desk Clerk, then Service Desk Lead, then Planner Scheduler for work orders. Eventually she got involved in Preventative Maintenance and moved to her current office to work with Regina Lyons and Bill Steudler. She arrives daily at 6 a.m. and digs into Maximo. 

"98% of what I do involves database updates on Maximo. The guys come in throughout the day and need to change this, add that, or see some data. They may tell me that the work order for room 12 should actually be room 13. I fix the database so it's correct...or they ask how many mechanical pumps are in room 34 Shields and Maximo shows 3, but the technician says I was just there and it's 5. 

Sometimes they'll ask 'tell me what fans we have in Whitmore?' That's when I get into using Microsoft Access. I can build queries about all the equipment in any building including Manufacturer, serial #, model #, equipment description, etc." Deb shares this information with our Technicians, Facility Coordinators, Service Desk Coordinators, Area Services, or anyone who might need it.

"I've always thought that the Work Control Center is the best office in the building. We put out a lot of work, and everyone gets along. It's a very homey group. We hold great birthday parties in Kathy Bamat's office. I worry that we will grow so big we won't fit into Kathy's office. I love working for Bill Steudler and updating spreadsheets. It's like being paid to play computer games all day!"

The Hysterical Clerical Chorus

"OPP used to be so much smaller. We used to have parties, and the entire building would fit in one room. All the Staff Assistants would wear bathrobes, stand up on risers, and sing songs out of the OPP Hymnal with specially written songs such as Ho,Ho,Ho, Physical Plant with lyrics about the joy of filling out time cards. It was a regular holiday pageant with casseroles galore."

OPP Husband Services - Meooow!

Many employees may know that Deb is married to John Emigh, OPP Maintenance Worker in Area 4, and that they are retiring at the same time. OPP brought them together when Deb was working at the Service Desk. It all began when John needed to obtain OPP data from Crystal Faust who worked next to Deb. "I always thought Crystal was so pretty. In fact, she was a model for a local motorcycle calendar, and John would come in and talk to Crystal. I kind of liked him, but I thought if he's coming in to see Crystal, I haven't got a prayer. I began asking Crystal, who's that guy who keeps coming into see you?

Well, I found out later that John was just coming in to get close to me! I always kept a picture of my cat at the desk, and it turned out that John is a cat lover, too. When my cat passed away, John invited me over to see his cat. He told me that he had always had bad luck with women and that I would have to be approved by his cat, Boots, if this relationship was going to work. So I went to meet Boots and I took along some catnip just to be safe. The catnip worked, I was approved, and the rest is history!"

Cruising Into Retirement

Deb has been a cruise ship aficionado for many years and now has John hooked. They are going to Alaska in June of 2014. Deb even created a quick guide to cruise lines.

Carnival - Best for young OPP party-goers

Holland America - No tipping, saves about $100 per day

Princess - Solid experience with great food

Norwegian Cruise Lines - her favorite, she is a repeat customer and gets priority boarding

Radisson & Crystal - Everything included, even alcohol  

Costa - Beautifully appointed ships and European ambiance

Since Deb and John have 59 years of combined service to OPP, they have received a beautiful Penn State Elm clock for John and a gorgeous rocking chair for Deb. The clock sounds like Old Main when it chimes and will always remind them of campus and OPP. Deb invites her many friends at OPP to take up cruising and join her and John on the high seas of retirement!